Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26S by ALEXANDER KENNEDY

Year built	1991
Location of boat	NIPIGON ONTARIO
The boat is sailed on	The Great Lakes
How the boat is used	Multi-week coastal cruising
Normal wind strength	16-22 knots
Average size of crew	solo
Liveaboard?	Yes
Owner bought the boat in	1998
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	IT ISN'T WHAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED - IT WAS WHAT I COULD AFFORD, BUT I HAVE NO REGRETS AS IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE PROBABLY THE BEST BOAT HULL I COULD GET FOR THE PRICE. NOW, THIS BOAT HAS TAKEN A BEATING AND I CAN TELL YOU IT IS TOUGH. I LOVE WORKING ON BOATS AND THIS IS A BARE BONES HULL THAT LETS YOU PERSONALISE IT IN MANY WAYS. YES I WOULD BUY IT AGAIN GIVEN A LIMITED BUDGET - THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SAVE MONEY - SUCH AS LAUNCHING-STORING, ETC.
Gear that's been added	YES, PLENTY. GAFFED MAIN, 2 MIZZEN, STORM, HEADSAIL, BRUCE ANCHOR, ANCHOR ROLLER, 9.9 HONDA, 12GAL INTERIOR FUEL, MANY INCIDENTALS FOR PROLONGED CRUISING.
Structural or complex improvements	WHERE TO BEGIN? WE NOW HAVE THE ONLY 26S YAWL IN EXISTENCE. WE ADDED A MIZZEN AND WHEEL STEERING. THIS REQUIRED A LARGER RUDDER WITH TAB. WE ALSO CEMENTED IN 600 LBS OF CAST IRON ON BOTH SDES OF THE WATERBALAST TANK. THE MIZZEN MAST IS 17FT, SO YOU MIGHT DEBATE AS TO WHETHER WE NOW HAVE A KETCH OR YAWL WE CUT THE MAIN BY 4 FT. AND MADE IT INTO A GAFF RIG. WE ADDED A BOWSPRIT AND A HEADSAIL SO WE CAN NOW FLY AS A DOUBLE HEADED GAFFED KETCH. ALL SAILS MAY BE HANDLED FROM THE COCKPIT. WE REMOVED THE PARTITION BETWEEN THE HEAD AND V-BERTH WHICH NOW GIVES MUCH MORE ROOM AND WASH-UP. WE ADDED A SMALL PARTITION ACROSS FROM THE MAIN SO THAT YOU MAY CL0SE THE HEAD DOOR, COMPLETELY SEPERATING THE HEAD AND V BERTH.
The boat's best features	A TOUGH HULL WITH STRENGTH WHERE IT MATTERS IS NO.1. THESE BOATS HAVE A LONG TRACK RECORD AND IF THERE WERE WEAK STRUCTURAL POINTS YOU WOULD KNOW ABOUT THEM. MY BOAT HAS BEEN DE-MASTED AND GROUNDED AND I CAN SPEAK WITH AUTHORITY ON THE TOUGHNESS OF ITS CONSTRUCTION.I CONSIDER ITS SIMPLICITY AND ADAPTABILITY TO CUSTOMISING A PLUS, BUT NOT EVERYONE WOULD AGREE.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	FACTORY INSTALLED RUDDER DEFINITELY NEEDS REPLACEING. THE SWING KEEL PIVOT MOUNTING SHOULD BE BEEFED UP IF YOU ARE WORKING BIG WATER FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. FOREDECK CLEAT SHOULD BE BEEFED - NOT FOR DOCKING BUT FOR ANCHORAGE PURPOSES. OTHERWISE THIS IS A VERY TOUGH HULL AND CAN TAKE QUITE A BEATING. I WOULD RECOMMEND A SECOND FORESTAY IF YOU ARE IN BLUE WATER. VERNIER STAY ADJUSTERS ARE STRONG BUT TOO DIFFICULT TO ADJUST WHEN AT SEA, SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH GOOD TURNBUCKLES.
Sailing characterisitcs	AS A YAWL SHE MAY BE BALANCED PERFECTLY AND WILL SELF STEER FOR HOURS ON END. THE SWING KEEL AND LARGE TABBED RUDDER ALLOWS ENDLESS ADJUSTMENT FOR ANY SEA AND WIND. KEEL UP AND BARE POLES SHE RIDES LIKE A DUCK AND WE CAN GET OCEAN-LIKE SEAS HERE ON LAKE SUPERIOR. 30K WINDS HAVE BECOME NORMAL HEREABOUTS, BUT PROPERLY CANVASSED AND BALANCED SHE HANDLES IT WITH EASE.WITH ADDED BALAST AND LOWER ASPECT MAIN SHE IS NOW STIFFER AND KINDLIER AND WE STILL RETAIN SELF-RIGHTING ABLITY EVEN WITH A WET MIZZEN.
Motoring characterisitcs
Liveability	CRAMPED FOR TWO FOR ANY PROLONGED PERIOD, BUT FOR ONE THERE IS ABUNDANT ROOM AND LOTS OF STORAGE FOR LONG CRUISES. A SWING TABLE THAT SWINGS OUT OF THE WAY OVER THE SINK IS A GREAT IDEA. THE SEATS ARE POOR BUT CAN EASILY BE IMPROVED, THE LARGE SPACIOUS MAIN BERTH IS GREAT.
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